A series of third-party apps began filtering through Twitter overnight that intentionally sent spam messages from users’ accounts without their knowledge.

In one example, Twitter users were told that a new app could tell them how many other Twitter users had “unfollowed” them on the service. Once a user signed up for the app, his or her account would automatically send the same message to all followers, asking them to verify their account and then take them to a spam advertising site.

Del Harvey, director of Twitter’s Trust & Safety team, became aware of the spam application early Tuesday and quickly suspended the accounts. “The latest round (but surely not the last!) of scammy, spammy apps have been suspended; avoid clicking on those bad apps!” Ms. Harvey wrote in a Twitter message.

Carolyn Penner, a Twitter spokeswoman wrote in an e-mail that no one’s account was compromised beyond the spam messages. ”We suspended several apps that were created overnight,” Ms. Penner wrote. “These apps claimed that users would be able to immediately see who unfollowed them once they granted the app access to their account.”

The days of tweeting on autopilot are coming to screeching halt. Twitter filed suit this past Thursday against five of the most aggressive tweet automation programs in an attempt to rinse itself of the platform-clogging spam the software routinely creates. The site’s operators are fed up with marketers and webmasters abusing the medium in the name of self-promotion, and the suit appears to mark the beginning of a new era for social media marketing.

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Twitter opened their own doors to spamming to begin with. Even just the original allowance of connecting Facebook and twitter created a giant flood of spam. Interesting article though, will be even moreso to see how things continue to develop. Thanks for sharing.

TradingCardAuctions wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Twitter opened their own doors to spamming to begin with. Even just the original allowance of connecting Facebook and twitter created a giant flood of spam. Interesting article though, will be even moreso to see how things continue to develop. Thanks for sharing.

i totally agree with you - twitter opened their doors to spam.
in twitter anyone can open accounts,as much as he wants and basically write spamming statues.
if to be honest, facebook is on the way of spamming also.